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Effects of Immunological Castration and DDGS on Pig Carcase Quality and Yields

14 August 2014

Bacon slicing yield was lower in immunologically castrated male pigs the control diet (without distiller’s dried grains with solubles; DDGS) and 30 per cent DDGS than their counterparts that had been physically castrated, according to a recent study at the University of Illinois. Withdrawal of DDGS improved bacon slicing yields only in the immunologically castrated pigs.

In a paper in Journal of Animal Science recently, first-named author M.A. Tavárez of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and others from Ohio state University, Kansas State University, Zoetis and Sugar Creek Packing Co. describe a sudy in which male pigs were randomly assigned to a castration method at birth and allotted to 48 pens (28 pigs per pen).

DDGS feeding strategies included either 0 DDGS (control), 30 per cent DDGS (30% DDGS) fed from six weeks of age to slaughter or 30 per cent DDGS fed from six weeks of age to second dose of Improvest and then fed 0% DDGS until slaughter (withdrawal).

Four barrows closest to the median pen weight at 4.5 weeks after second dose were selected for evaluation; two were randomly selected and slaughtered at five weeks and the other two at seven weeks after second dose.

Data from each slaughter time were analyzed independently as a 2×3 factorial design with pen as the experimental unit.

At five weeks after second dose, bone-in lean cutting yields were 2.63 per cent units greater (P<0.01) in IC when compared to PC.

Bellies were thicker (P<0.01) and tended to have greater belly flop distances (P=0.07) in PC than IC, however iodine values (IV) were not altered (P=0.84).

These data suggested that while bacon slicing yield was reduced in IC barrows fed control and 30 per cent DDGS than their PC barrow counterparts, withdrawal of DDGS improved bacon slicing yields of IC barrows.